Customs agency official says export growth by world's largest trading nation will be limited if US president-elect imposes greater trade measures

US president-elect Donald Trump may limit the growth of China’s exports by imposing greater trade protectionist measures, the mainland customs agency said on Friday.

China is the biggest loser in the anti-globalization trend, customs spokesman Huang Songping said, adding it will be difficult for China’s foreign trade to improve in 2017 due to rising costs and other factors.

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The challenges China faces in trade are not short-term but its economy can handle them, he said, adding he hopes that US-China trade cooperation will continue.

China, the world’s largest trading nation, could be heavily exposed to protectionist measures this year if Trump follows through on campaign pledges to brand it a currency manipulator and impose heavy tariffs on imports of Chinese goods.